Wednesday, 1 October 2014 11:26:17 Europe/London

On October 29th an exhibition opens at the Design Museum called WOMEN FASHION POWER. It looks at how influential women have used fashion to define and enhance their position in the world. The exhibition celebrates exceptional women from the spheres of politics, culture, business and fashion – forward thinkers who have had an impact on our wardrobes and the world stage.

A woman’s arsenal of clothes can be her most valuable resource. Whether it is Margaret Thatcher’s severe silhouette or Elizabeth 1st stately ruff. In fact Baroness Thatcher famously said that she wore her Sunday best seven days a week so that she was always prepared. Let’s face it, no one was elected to anything while wearing a hoodie and a pair of Levis.

This month we have chosen Christine Lagarde as our style icon, because wearing the right clothes at the right time is as important as it ever was. How women present themselves visually to the world is part of who we are, and the impression we make with our clothes is an introduction to ourselves.

MERINO COLOUR BLOCK DRESS £125

We do not have to be fashion plates or even fashion followers, but in creating our own style we demonstrate who and what we are. As the gender-gap narrows and women gradually become more prominent in society’s top positions, we need to think about how important fashion is in empowering women today.

To quote the New York Times fashion Editor Vanessa Friedman: “Why does fashion matter? The world is not run by naked people.” After all, behind every powerful woman is a powerful wardrobe. It is neither vain, extravagant nor a waste of time to spend money and thought on the development of our clothes collection.

As Kim Winser wrote in an article in Forbes Magazine on Professional Women: “I believe that personal presentation is a fundamental part of personal success, and in turn, business success. It can have an effect on your own performance too.”